Mexico Expat Forum for Expats Living in MexicoWith an area of two million square kilometers, Mexico is the fifth largest country in the Americas and has a larger population of US and Canadian expats than any other country.

Hello this is my first post. I like this site & reading about others' experiences abroad.

I want to go somewhere and be anonymous. Can I do this in Mexico?

I'm stuck in a dead-end job here in the US. My credit is shot I don't have any prospects. I can't stand living here. I don't like having my credit checked, references checked, driving record checked etc. every time I apply for a job. I don't like sobriety checkpoints, seat belt inspections, driver license checks, and all the other bullcrap revenue measures/police state monkey business that goes on here (Florida.)

Anyone living in Mexico that has some guidance please sound off. How many times a week do you get stopped by police & have to show your papers, or have your visa checked, etc? Do cops down there hassle you about where you're going when you're out and about? Do they even care? If someone settles down into one city or town can they just mind their own business & be left alone?

I've made up my mind to leave, I just need to know if Mexico might work for me or if I should head further south. Thanks for your time.

I think this poster is playing games. Charley Varrick is a movie staring Walter Matthau and Joe Don Baker. Before I'd spend any more time trying to answer his questions, I'd need something to prove that it's all not a game.

Johnmex has a good point but assuming that resolved the answer is that you can pretty much disappear if you keep up your paperwork. Other than highways to the border, I've been stopped twice in 8 years by military/Federales. Once on the way to Zihua and the other to San Miguel. The local police are often out but if they don't get you with hand held radar they normally just look at the car import sticker and wave me on. Around Mexico city a different matter as they are cracking down.

Hello this is my first post. I like this site & reading about others' experiences abroad.

I want to go somewhere and be anonymous. Can I do this in Mexico?

I'm stuck in a dead-end job here in the US. My credit is shot I don't have any prospects. I can't stand living here. I don't like having my credit checked, references checked, driving record checked etc. every time I apply for a job. I don't like sobriety checkpoints, seat belt inspections, driver license checks, and all the other bullcrap revenue measures/police state monkey business that goes on here (Florida.)

Anyone living in Mexico that has some guidance please sound off. How many times a week do you get stopped by police & have to show your papers, or have your visa checked, etc? Do cops down there hassle you about where you're going when you're out and about? Do they even care? If someone settles down into one city or town can they just mind their own business & be left alone?

I've made up my mind to leave, I just need to know if Mexico might work for me or if I should head further south. Thanks for your time.

You won't become anonymous in the U.S. by leaving there, and you won't become anonymous in Mexico by coming here. So, the answer to your question is, No.

Hello this is my first post. I like this site & reading about others' experiences abroad.

I want to go somewhere and be anonymous. Can I do this in Mexico?

I'm stuck in a dead-end job here in the US. My credit is shot I don't have any prospects. I can't stand living here. I don't like having my credit checked, references checked, driving record checked etc. every time I apply for a job. I don't like sobriety checkpoints, seat belt inspections, driver license checks, and all the other bullcrap revenue measures/police state monkey business that goes on here (Florida.)

Anyone living in Mexico that has some guidance please sound off. How many times a week do you get stopped by police & have to show your papers, or have your visa checked, etc? Do cops down there hassle you about where you're going when you're out and about? Do they even care? If someone settles down into one city or town can they just mind their own business & be left alone?

I've made up my mind to leave, I just need to know if Mexico might work for me or if I should head further south. Thanks for your time.

If you like the whole "papers please" thing, you're gonna love Mexico. Mexican immigration makes the United States appear without borders. Just try to enter Mexico without proper paperwork and see how fast you will be arrested. If you want visa, be sure you have about $1200 of passive monthly income in the United States.

To johnmex: about daily income. Supplement my savings with teaching English I have a CELTA certificate and experience teaching English in Spain.

To conklinwh: I won't drive. Will go to a few big cities by bus and spend a few weeks in each. Then will settle down in the one I think I can stick it out best in. As far as "keep up your paperwork" that is something I hoped to get away with not doing. Thanks for your answer I'll take that as a warning.

To flybeech: thank you in particular. NO I don't like the whole "papers please" experience have no interest in living like that at all.

To all: I've done something like this before. From 1996 to 2000 I lived in Spain. Well I first went to Switzerland then travelled around Europe for 2 months. Settled in Spain. NEVER had police contact. Never was asked to produce my passport except at bank to change traveller's checks. Even my landlords - I changed apartments twice - never asked for it. I lived there successfully illegally. I didn't get a DNI didn't pay taxes. Spent my first year in Spain teaching English off the books. As I made friends I found better work as a laborer. I helped renovate apartments. It was easy to get work doing that and it paid better than teaching English even privately. Wish I had stayed after 2000 as Spain did an amnesty for illegals. It was an easy place to just blend into. I know when I go to Mexico or elsewhere I won't blend in so easily. I will continue to read comments to this thread and respond as best and as politely as I can.

Mexico is not the EU. They really have no idea whom is where which is why people pouring in.
Mexico is much more serious about paperwork than the US and way more than the EU. You are right, you missed a seriously good opportunity in Spain.

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